Violin maestro will dazzle in St Leonards

Virtuoso violinist Mikko-Ville will take part in an intriguing local gig next week when he joins forces with local treasures Mike Hatchard and Herbie Flowers.

The event is called Music & Laughter & Fun & Romance and will feature Gecko regular Mike on piano with Herbie on bass.

Mikko-Ville is a classical musician from Finland. In addition to his career as a soloist and guest concertmeister, including the Royal Opera in Stockholm, he played first violin with the New York Metropolitan Opera Orchestra 1981-85, and has been leader of the Savonlinna Opera Festival Orchestra for 19 years. His passion is jazz.

Herbie Flowers and Mike Hatchard have performed together for many years and always create a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere.

Herbie’s career reaches back to the early 1960’s and the list of artists he has recorded with include David Bowie, Mark Bolan, Lou Read, Elton John, John Williams and many more. More recently he’s back to playing jazz on the double bass, as well as doing recording sessions, plus the odd after-dinner speech about his sixty years in the music business.

Mike Hatchard is a consummate pianist and also has had a decidedly diverse career; he once played second tenor sax with the National Jazz Youth Orchestra accompanying Frankie Vaughan. He appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show accompanying Cleo Laine on guitar, played violin with the Pasadena Roof Orchestra and continues to perform on the live music scene. He is keen to promote live music and regularly organises events such as his Jazz Breakfast at Beauport Park.